System and Method for Delivering a Tracking Device to an Animal using a Weaponized Projectile

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to a system and method for delivering a tracking device to an animal using a weaponized projectile. The tracking device can comprise a transmitter, a carrier, and a hook. The carrier can be mountable to a weaponized projectile. The carrier can be capable of mounting the transmitter. The hook can attach at the back-end portion of the carrier. 
     This disclosure also teaches a method for attaching a tracking device to a weaponized projectile. The method can comprise the steps of placing a carrier at a surface of the weaponized projectile, and attaching the carrier to the weaponized projectile. The carrier can be capable of mounting a transmitter. The back end portion of the carrier can comprise a hook.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates to a system and method for delivering a trackingdevice to an animal using a weaponized projectile.

When hunting, if a hunter fails to land a quick-kill shot, an animal cantravel a great distance before dying. During this time, the hunter maylose the animal, allowing for great waste.

Within the field of animal research, researchers use tracking methods toobserve animal movements, migration, and habits. Such tracking can alsoallow researchers to better understand and protect our wildlife. One ofthe known methods for tracking animals in the wild include delivering atracking device using a non-lethal projectile. In such method, thetracking device remains connected to the animal, but outside the skin.Such method is deficient for hunters for a number of reasons. First,lethal, weaponized projectiles used by hunters will not work withpresent tracking device delivery systems. Second, as the projectile isconnected to the outside of the animal, it is possible for the device tocome off the animal, especially if the animal is acting erratic afterbeing injured. Third, as the tracking device is outside the animal,useful information that could be read from inside the animal, such asbody temperature, is unattainable.

Further, systems that have attempted to attach tracking devices havebeen bulky, and such bulk alters the direction of the projectile,severely reduce its range.

As such it would be useful to have an improved system and method fordelivering a tracking device to an animal using a weaponized projectile.

SUMMARY

This disclosure relates to a system and method for delivering a trackingdevice to an animal using a weaponized projectile. The tracking devicecan comprise a transmitter, a carrier, and a hook. The carrier can bemountable to a weaponized projectile. The carrier can be capable ofmounting the transmitter. The hook can attach at the back-end portion ofthe carrier.

This disclosure also teaches a method for attaching a tracking device toa weaponized projectile. The method can comprise the steps of placing acarrier at a surface of the weaponized projectile, and attaching thecarrier to the weaponized projectile. The carrier can be capable ofmounting a transmitter. The back end portion of the carrier can comprisea hook.

This disclosure also teaches a method for delivering a tracking deviceto an animal using a weaponized projectile. The method can comprise thestep of attaching a carrier to the weaponized projectile, loading theweaponized projectile to a weapon, releasing the weaponized projectiletowards the direction of the animal, hitting the animal with theweaponized projectile, and leaving the tracking device within theanimal. The carrier can be capable of mounting a transmitter. The backend portion of the carrier comprises a hook. The hook can be capable ofattaching onto the animal providing enough force in the oppositedirection of the weaponized projectile to allow the weaponizedprojectile to go all the way through.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a tracking device mounted on a weaponized projectile.

FIG. 2A illustrates a transmitter attached at a surface of a carrier.

FIG. 2B illustrates a sectional view embodiment of a carrier.

FIG. 3 illustrates a tracking device attached to an arrow through afastening method.

FIG. 4A illustrates how a tracking device attaches to an arrow using afastening method.

FIG. 4B illustrates how a fastener secures a tracking device onto anarrow.

FIG. 5 illustrates how a tracking device is delivered to an animal.

FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of a tracking device attacked toan arrow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Described herein is a system and method for delivering a tracking deviceto an animal using a weaponized projectile. The following description ispresented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use theinvention as claimed and is provided in the context of the particularexamples discussed below, variations of which will be readily apparentto those skilled in the art. In the interest of clarity, not allfeatures of an actual implementation are described in thisspecification. It will be appreciated that in the development of anysuch actual implementation (as in any development project), designdecisions must be made to achieve the designers' specific goals (e.g.,compliance with system- and business-related constraints), and thatthese goals will vary from one implementation to another. It will alsobe appreciated that such development effort might be complex andtime-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking forthose of ordinary skill in the field of the appropriate art having thebenefit of this disclosure. Accordingly, the claims appended hereto arenot intended to be limited by the disclosed embodiments, but are to beaccorded their widest scope consistent with the principles and featuresdisclosed herein.

FIG. 1 illustrates a tracking device 100 mounted on a weaponizedprojectile 101. For purposes of this disclosure, weaponized projectile101 can be any projected object and/or weapon designed for targetinggame, that is capable of carrying tracking device 100 as describedwithin this disclosure. Weaponized projectile 101 can include but is notlimited to an arrow or spear. For illustrative purposes, we will showembodiments wherein tracking device 100 is mounted to weaponizedprojectile 101. Tracking device 100 can attach at the shaft ofweaponized projectile 101 such that tracking device 100 is positionednext to the head of weaponized projectile 101. Tracking device 100 cancomprise a transmitter 102, and a carrier 103. Carrier 103 can hold andtemporarily secure transmitter 102 with weaponized projectile 101.Transmitter 102 can be a radio transmitter or a Global PositioningSystem (GPS) transmitter, in one embodiment. For purposes of thisembodiment, transmitter 102 can be a transmitter or a transceiver.

FIG. 2A illustrates transmitter 102 attached at a surface of carrier103. Carrier 103 can have a substantially flat surface capable of beingmounted by transmitter 102. The front-end portion of carrier 103 canform a slight curve while the back-end portion can be flat. Furthermore,carrier 103 can further comprise a hole 203. Hole 203 can be a throughand through hole placed near the front-end side of carrier 103. Trackingdevice 100 can further comprise a hook 202. Hook 202 can attach at theback-end portion of carrier 103. Hook 202 can curve at an angle and cancomprise sharp ends such that hooks 202 can easily attach to animals. Inone embodiment, carrier 103 can further comprise a U-shaped catch 204.Catch 204 can also attach at the back-end portion of carrier 103 and canbe much smaller than hook 202. In this embodiment, transmitter 102 canattach to a surface of carrier 103 through methods that can include butis not limited to adhesion or confinement. Transmitter 102 can be placedat the middle section of carrier 103. In such embodiment, transmitter102 can be expose to the surrounding and can be accessible from theouter surface.

FIG. 2B illustrates a sectional view embodiment of carrier 103. In thisembodiment, transmitter 102 can be enclosed within carrier 103. This canensure that transmitter 102 is kept in place. Moreover, such structurecan provide protection to transmitter 102 from being exposed to theouter surroundings.

FIG. 3 illustrates tracking device 100 attached to weaponized projectile101 through a fastening device. In this embodiment tracking device 100can further comprise a fastener 301, a ring 302, and a pin 303. Fastener301 can have a U-shape form, which comprises a pair of prongs 304. Insuch structure, weaponized projectile 101 can be mounted in betweenprongs 304. Each prong 304 can comprise an orifice 305. Orifice 305 canbe a through and through hole that is positioned near the top edge ofeach prong 304. Ring 302 can be made of elastic material such as arubber. Moreover, ring 302 can comprise a void 306. Void 306 can be anempty space at the center of ring 302. Void 306 can be large enough toreceive the shaft of weaponized projectile 101. In such structure, ring302 can be insertable onto weaponized projectile 101 and carrier 103such that ring 302 can be wrapped around the rear-end portion of carrier103 thus, connecting weaponized projectile 101 with tracking device 100.Pin 303 can be a thin piece of breakaway material such as plastic.

FIG. 4A illustrates how tracking device 100 attaches to weaponizedprojectile 101 using a fastening method. First, carrier 103 can beplaced at a surface near the neck of weaponized projectile 101. Once inplace, ring 302 can be inserted into the neck of weaponized projectile101 and then carrier 103 can be inserted within ring 302, placingcarrier 103 between ring 302 and weaponized projectile 101. Ring 302 cansecure the rear-end portion of carrier 103 to the neck of weaponizedprojectile 101. In an embodiment wherein tracking device 100 comprisescatch 204, catch 204 can prevent ring 302 from slipping through the backend of platform 202. Thus, ring 302 can be wrapped around catch 204securing ring 302 within the surface of carrier 103.

FIG. 4B illustrates how fastener 301 secures tracking device 100 ontoweaponized projectile 101. First, weaponized projectile 101 can bepositioned in between prongs 304 of fastener 301, then fastener 301 canbe placed near the front-end neck of weaponized projectile 101. Next,carrier 103 can be placed on top of weaponized projectile 101 in betweenprongs 304. In such position, orifice 305 on fastener 301 can be alignedwith hole 203 of carrier 103. Once aligned, pin 303 can be insertedwithin hole 203 and orifice 305. Thus, pin 303 can temporarily connectfront-end of tracking device 100 with weaponized projectile 101.

FIG. 5 illustrates how tracking device 100 is delivered to an animal500. After attaching tracking device 100 on weaponized projectile 101,the user can load weaponized projectile 101 to a weapon such as a bow.Once animal 500 is spotted, the user can aim on the target and releaseweaponized projectile 101 towards the direction of the target animal500. When weaponized projectile 101 or weaponized projectile 101 hitsanimal 500, weaponized projectile 101 can pierce the animal's skin atone side and go all the way through the other side. In this scenario,hook 202 can be capable of attaching to a portion of animal 500 beforeweaponized projectile 101 passes through the animal's body. Hook 202 canprovide enough force in the opposite direction of weaponized projectile101. The opposing force of hook 202 and the speed of weaponizedprojectile 101 can cause pin 303 to break, which can allow weaponizedprojectile 101 to pass through animal 500. In such instance, trackingdevice 100, which comprises carrier 103 and transmitter 102 can be leftwithin animal 500.

FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of tracking device 100 attached toweaponized projectile 101. In this embodiment, carrier 103 can attach toweaponized projectile 101 using an adhesive material 601. In suchembodiment, the user can first apply adhesive material 601 at the bottomsurface of carrier 103, or at a surface of weaponized projectile 101.Next, the user can attach carrier 103 near the front-end neck ofweaponized projectile 101. Furthermore, adhesive material 601 cantemporarily connect said tracking device 100 with weaponized projectile101. As such, tracking device 100 can breakaway from weaponizedprojectile 101 when enough force is exerted on tracking device 100,

Various changes in the details of the illustrated operational methodsare possible without departing from the scope of the following claims.Some embodiments may combine the activities described herein as beingseparate steps. Similarly, one or more of the described steps may beomitted, depending upon the specific operational environment the methodis being implemented in. It is to be understood that the abovedescription is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Forexample, the above-described embodiments may be used in combination witheach other. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill inthe art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the inventionshould, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims,along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims areentitled. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which”are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms“comprising” and “wherein.”

1. A tracking device comprising a transmitter; a carrier mountable to a weaponized projectile, said carrier capable of mounting said transmitter; and a hook attached at the back-end portion of said carrier.
 2. The tracking device of claim 1 wherein said carrier attaches to said weaponized projectile through an adhesive material.
 3. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein said carrier further comprises a hole near the front-end side of said carrier; a fastener comprising a pair of prongs, wherein each of said prongs comprises an orifice, said orifice capable of aligning with said hole, further wherein said weaponized projectile mountable in between said prongs; and a pin insertable through said orifice and said hole.
 4. The tracking device of claim 3, further comprising a ring, said ring insertable onto said weaponized projectile and said tracking device such that said ring wrapped around the rear-end portion of said carrier connecting said weaponized projectile with said tracking device.
 5. The tracking device of claim 5 further comprising a u-shaped catch, said catch attaches at the back-end portion of said carrier, further wherein said catch capable of preventing said ring from slipping through the back end of said carrier.
 6. The tracking device of claim 5 wherein said ring comprises of rubber.
 7. The tracking device of claim 5 wherein said pin comprises a breakaway material.
 8. The tracking device of claim 8 wherein said breakaway material is a plastic.
 9. The tracking device of claim 1 wherein said transmitter is attached at a surface of said carrier.
 10. The tracking device of claim 1 wherein said transmitter is enclosed within said carrier.
 11. The tracking device of claim 1 wherein said weaponized projectile is an arrow.
 12. A method for attaching a tracking device to a weaponized projectile comprising the step of placing a carrier at a surface of said weaponized projectile, said carrier capable of mounting a transmitter, further wherein back end portion of said carrier comprises a hook; and attaching said carrier to said weaponized projectile.
 13. The method of claim 12 prior to attaching said carrier to said weaponized projectile comprises the step of applying an adhesive material at the bottom surface of said carrier.
 14. The method of claim 12 wherein said carrier further comprises a hole, said hole placed near the front-end side of said carrier.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of a fastener comprising a pair of prongs, wherein each of said prongs comprises an orifice, said orifice capable of aligning with said hole, further wherein said weaponized projectile mountable in between said prongs; and inserting a pin through said hole and said orifices.
 16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of inserting a ring into said weaponized projectile and said tracking device such that said ring is wrapped around the rear-end portion of said carrier connecting said weaponized projectile with said tracking device;
 17. A method for delivering a tracking device to an animal using a weaponized projectile comprising the step of attaching a carrier to said weaponized projectile, said carrier capable of mounting a transmitter, further wherein back end portion of said carrier comprises a hook; loading said weaponized projectile to a weapon; releasing said weaponized projectile towards the direction of said animal; hitting said animal with said weaponized projectile, wherein said hook capable of attaching onto said animal providing enough force in the opposite direction of said weaponized projectile to allow said weaponized projectile to go all the way through; and leaving said tracking device within said animal.
 18. The method of claim 17 prior to attaching said carrier onto said weaponized projectile, further comprising the step of applying an adhesive material at the bottom surface of said carrier.
 19. The method of claim 17 wherein said carrier further comprises a hole, said hole placed near the front-end side of said carrier.
 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of a fastener comprising a pair of prongs, wherein each of said prongs comprises an orifice, said orifice capable of aligning with said hole, further wherein said weaponized projectile mountable in between said prongs; and inserting a pin through said hole and said orifices.
 21. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of inserting a ring into said weaponized projectile and said tracking device such that said ring is wrapped around the rear-end portion of said carrier connecting said weaponized projectile with said tracking device;
 22. The method of claim 20 wherein said pin comprises a breakaway material.
 23. The method of claim 21 wherein said breakaway material is a plastic. 